For starters, the first 4 ITR forms (ITR-1,2,3,4) are necessary for an individual to know about, while filing taxes. Lets decode all these forms in detail with Tanya, a 22 year old IT professional who earns Rs 10,000 per month. Her mother has a monthly rental income of Rs 12,000 per month. Will the two of them be required to file ITR? Well, the answer is no. You see, Tanya's
If you opt for the old tax regime, you don't need to file an ITR if you annual income is below Rs 2.5 lakh. In the new regime, this limit stands at Rs 3 lakh. Similarly, if your grandparents are aged between 61-79, they need not file an ITR if their annual income (via rent, pensions) falls below Rs 3 lakh. And if they are aged above 80, this threshold if of Rs 5 lakh for the year.
ITR-1: Sahaj
Lets continue with Tanya's life. She works super hard, and over the years, earns a few well deserved raises. Now, her monthly income is Rs 50,000. In this case, she will have to file ITR-1, which is also known as Sahaj. This form applies to you if your total annual income for the year does not exceed Rs 50,00,000. The best part? This form is generally pre-filled, and all you've got to do is verify the information through yourITR-2
Over time, Tanya decides to start investing in mutual funds. While she holds most of her investments for the long-term, she is compelled to sell some units of her investment in equity mutual funds, due to a medical emergency at home. She had purchased some equity mutual fund units worth Rs 2,00,000 on April 1, 2023. Due to the emergency, she had to sell about Rs 80,000 worth of units in December of the same year. On redemption, she received Rs 1,10,000. Since she had held these securities for less than 12 months, Tanya would have to pay a short-term
Had Tanya held on to these securities for more than 12 months and then sold them at a gain, she'd have to pay long-term capital gains tax, which is applicable at 10% for equity mutual funds. And to account for such capital gains, be it from sale of shares, mutual funds, property or the like, Tanya needs to file ITR-2.
ITR-3
Tanya's brother, Vishal, is a freelancer who got hooked to trading in futures and options during the pandemic. Initially, he made solid profits, but during FY24, he ran into losses worth Rs 5 lakh. In this case, he will have to file ITR-3 to report his losses. This form is to be used by those who earn income under the head of profits (or even losses) of business or profession, other than regular salary.In case Tanya's mother starts receiving rental income from more than one house properties, she will also have to file ITR-3. Or, in case you are a CA, or a doctor and have your own practice (are self employed), this form is for you.
ITR-4: Sugam
This form is exclusively for those who opt to be taxed under the presumptive taxation scheme. You can opt for this scheme if you are a small business/firm and your annual turnover is less than Rs 3 crore, or you are self employed with an annual revenue of less than Rs 75 lakh.Under this, you don't pay taxes on your actual income, rather, you pay taxes on a presumed income. As per law, under this scheme, your net income will be considered as 6% of your total revenue, and you'll have to pay taxes on that. Here, you're really not calculating your income for taxation, and hence, it is not even mandatory to maintain records.
In case you file the wrong ITR, you can always file a revised return by December 31, 2024. In case you miss filing your ITR on time, you’ll have to pay Rs 5,000 as a penalty. Moreover, you’ll be charged interest on your outstanding tax liability, if there is any. So, get down to work, right away!